SYDNEY – Pakistan are set to play the last match of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from 3 to 7 January.
Shan Masood-led side will be looking to avoid a whitewash after the hosts took an unassailable lead by winning the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
After their 360-run defeat at Perth in the series opener, Pakistan put on a spirited display in Melbourne before Australia claimed victory on the fourth day of the match.
Ahead of the series finale, Shan is leading the run-scoring chart for Pakistan after producing twin half-centuries in the Boxing Day Test.
Aamir Jamal, after making his debut in the series opener, is the second highest wicket-taker of the series so far. He has taken 12 wickets in two games, including a five-wicket haul.
Opening batter Saim Ayub will be making his Test debut, coming in place of Imam-ul-Haq.
Saim had earned his maiden Test call-up following an impressive domestic season.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested with spinner Sajid Khan replacing him in the side.
Pakistan will be persisting with the three changes made ahead of MCG Test. Mir Hamza, who replaced an injured Khurram Shahzad in the playing XI, registered his career-best figures in Melbourne.
He accounted for six wickets in the match, including a double-wicket maiden in Australia’s second innings.
Hasan Ali and Mohammad Rizwan, who replaced Faheem Ashraf and Sarfaraz Ahmed at MCG respectively, have also kept their place in the side.
In the pre-match press conference, Shan Masood stated: “We have learned from the mistakes we made in the first two matches. Going forth, it is about not repeating them, especially when playing against quality sides. If we keep playing like this, I am sure there will be a lot of Test wins in the future.
“Players like Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Mir Hamza have done well in tough conditions. This reflects the success of our domestic system, as it has broadened our bench strength. We want to give similar chances to our batters too, so we can widen our player pool in each department.”
Pakistan playing XI for the SCG Test: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Aamir Jamal, Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza
